Software for personal instruments

When a personal computer (PC) is used as the computing system of an intelligent instrument, software devoted to measurement process control and to measurement process outputting can be specially developed to assist the operator throughout the measurement process in a friendly way. When these conditions are met, the intelligent instrument is called a personal instrument (PI). The main features of a PI are discussed, and the requirements for PI software are given. The performance of an original software package for PI is illustrated, showing how all the requirements are satisfied. This software, coupled to a good commercial data acquisition system, features high-precision measurement and a high level of friendliness and can be useful for lab tests and educational purposes. For lab tests, this software is a good basis for an automatic test station with extended help facilities. It ensures better performances than that of a digital scope because it allows dedicated measurement routines to be developed and executed. The software is effective for educational applications, since it allows direct application of all capabilities offered by computers in instrumentation, when associated with suitable A/D (analog/digital) conversion hardware. >